SAPI Summer Conference 2011

8th Annual Conference STUDENT ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM, INC. South Padre Island, Texas •June 15-17, 2011

Welcome!

EDUARDO GUTIERREZ

Committed to provide continued opportunities to students

Dear Colleagues and Conference Participants, Throughout his 20 years of service, Mr. Eduardo Gutierrez has witnessed his dream, of providing alternative educational leaming methods and programs, blossom and grow. Today, Mr. Gutierrez operates four charter districts with eight high school campuses. These charter campuses have a combined maximum enrollment capacity of 2,600 students. The charter districts are located in the following geographical areas: EI Paso, Texas-----Paso Del Norte Academy Laredo, Texas-----Gateway Academy Lubbock, Texas---South Plains Academy McAllen, Mercedes, San Benito-Mid-Valley Academy.

In 2008, Mr. Gutierrez created Project Visi6n, a mentorship program for SAPI students. Every year, each campus nominates one female and one male student as a mentee. Through Project Vision, these students develop good stewardship, strong leadership skills, and are strongly encouraged to pursue higher education.

Mr. Gutierrez looks forward to SAPI’ s continued growth and development.

Through SAPI, he is committed to provide continued opportunities to students who will rise to the expected levels of success and who will seek unlimited personal potential.

Welcome to SAPI’s 8th Annual Summer Conference. As you know, we have had many changes throughout our organization since our first Summer Conference. Some were not so easy, and some were really great; but they were all well worth the efforts we poured into them. We continue to grow, and still have many achievements yet to see come to fruition. We will be having some difficult times ahead with the advent of budget cuts and legislative mandates; however, we feel that with appropriate strategic planning and student enrollment increases, we will prevail in a cost effective manner ensuring financial solvency.

A lot of behind the scenes work went into the end product you will see here today and the next two days of the conference. Each year, our Planning Committee invests a lot of heart and soul into this Conference.

We assemble in this manner for one purpose, and that is to bring our staff and Board of Directors together so that we can provide you with resources to improve your performance on your campuses and in your classrooms, to remind you of our processes and procedures and the importance of following them, and to give us time to reflect on our successes and our failures. Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” And that is what we are here to do, continue and press on so that we can make a difference in the lives of our students and the communities that we serve.

I want to thank our Assistant Superintendent, Frances Berrones-Johnson for all of her dedication and hard work throughout the year. She represents each of you every day to the best of her ability and she has high expectations in return, as it should be. We are all called to serve, and we are all here for one purpose: to empower each other to improve our students’ performances by challenging their minds, igniting their enthusiasm, and giving them the tools they need to be successful. We must always stress the importance of higher education to each of our students. In the end, their success will ultimately be the measure of our success. Always remember that commitment leads to achievement and achievement leads to success. Thanks for your continued commitment.

Sincerely, Eduardo Gutierrez Founder/CEO Student Alternatives Program, Inc.

Friday, June 17

Thursday, June 16

Wednesday, June 15

Conference Schedule 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Hotel Check-In and Conference Registration Second Floor

5:30 p.m. --6:30 p.m.

Welcome Reception

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance / Master of Ceremony • Welcome to South Padre Island / Master of Ceremony • Opening Remarks / Eduardo Gutierrez • Introduction of Special Guests in Attendance & Board & Directors / Eduardo Gutiérrez & Master of Ceremony

7:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Dinner / Palm Grand Ballroom

8:15 pm

Award Presentation / Master of Ceremony

8:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

Video Presentation / Tribute to Our Students

7:15 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Door Prize Distribution

9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Entertainment by Nani Aloha Dancers

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Breakfast & General Session/Video Presentation

9:05 am – 11:45 am

Session I

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Working Lunch

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

Session II Group I—Team Building Activity

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm

Break

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Session II Group II—Team Building Activity

4:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Break

4:45 pm – 6:00 pm

Session II Group III—Team Building Activity

8:00 am – 9:30 am

Breakfast & General Session/Presentation

9:35 am – 11:45 am

Session III

11:45 am

Working Lunch To Go & Conference Evaluation

ABC Board Meeting and Commence SAPI & State 2:00 pm - ?

Board Meetings

The Starfish Story Original Story by: Loren Eisley

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all.

The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out.

If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”

Conference Topics

Team Building Exercise the SoB way!

Thursday, June 16, 2011 Session I TOPICS • 5E Model of Instruction

This research-based training will allow staff to explore the use of the 5E Model (Engage, Explore, Elaborate, Evaluate) in each of the core academic areas. Teachers will utilize a learning sequence made up of teacher and student behaviors that present a framework for constructivist learning. In this model, students have the opportunity to use logic and prior knowledge to build understanding through inquiry learning. The model seeks to engage students in the lesson before Exploration or Explanation.

• Math Strategies and the 5E Model of Instruction Participants will learn about the 5E Model of Instruction by going through a 5E Math Lesson and

looking at the behaviors of the teacher and students during a 5E Model lesson.

Presenter: Fernando Rosa, Region I ESC Representative Session Room: Majestic

• English Language Arts and the 5E Model of Instruction-

Participants will learn about the 5E Model of Instruction by going through a 5E English Language Arts Lesson and looking at the behaviors of the teacher and students during a 5E Model lesson.

Presenter: Nancy Escobedo, Region I ESC Representative Session Room: Nautilus

• Science Strategies and the 5E Model of Instruction Participants will learn about the 5E Model of Instruction by going through a 5E Science Lesson

and looking at the behaviors of the teacher and students during a 5E Model lesson.

Presenter: Patty Gandy, Region I ESC Representative Session Room: Sundial

• Social Studies and the 5E Model of Instruction

Participants will learn about the 5E Model of Instruction by going through a 5E Social Studies

Lesson and looking at the behaviors of the teacher and students during a 5E Model lesson.

Presenter: Esequiel Martinez, Region I ESC Representative Session Room: Conch

• Reviewing the SAPI LMAB PROTOCOL MANUAL Local Management Board together with SAPI and State Charter Board Members will have an

opportunity to review existing protocol, to include new amendments to the SAPI LMAB Manual, and to further prepare the document for final SAPI Board Approval.

Presenter: Janie Villa, Board Chair Session Room: Conference Room

• Training Block for Office Personnel This preparation block will allow all campus office personnel to receive material regarding

existing and new systems changes within the SAPI Charter School Structure. Corporate/Business Office Personnel will facilitate an agenda that will be carried out by Region 1 ESC Representatives.

An array of subjects will be included in this information packed itinerary.

Presenter(s): Mike Burkholder, Mary Trevino, Region I ESC Representatives Session Room: Key Largo

Session II TOPIC • Team Building Exercise - the SoB Way! The Sons of the Beach Sand Castle Wizards will help make our 8th Annual SAPI Summer

Conference an experience you will never forget. Through this fun filled exercise, you will • learn how to build a better sand sculpture - useful information for all future beach trips, • receive ideas on formulating a team plan, • execute the plan, • organize yourselves, assign individual tasks to team members and discover individual strengths and how to best make use of them, • get practice working together as a group, and • create an exciting visual for multiple photo opportunities.

Presenter: Amazin’ Walter & Staff Session Location: Beach

Friday, June 17, 2011 Session III Topics • Overview of Standard-Based IEPs and the ARD Process Standards-based goals are annual, measurable goals aligned to enrolled grade level Texas Essential

Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). This session is intended to provide its participants an overview of the four critical components of a measurable goal: • Timeframe identifies the amount of time in the goal period and is usually specified in the number of weeks or a certain date for completion, • Conditions specify the manner in which progress toward the goal occurs. Conditions describe the specific resources that must be present for a child to reach the goal. The condition of the goal should relate to the behavior being measured. For example, a goal relating to reading comprehension may require the use of a graphic organizer. The graphic organizer is the condition, • Behavior clearly identifies the performance that is being monitored. It represents an action that can be directly observed and measured, and • Criterion identifies how much, how often, or to what standard the behavior must occur in order to demonstrate that the goal has been achieved. The goal criterion specifies the amount of growth that is expected.

Presenter(s): Kelly Solis and Ruth Solis, Region I ESC Representative Session Room: Nautilus

Ms. Alicia Valdez

•Differentiated Instruction Differentiated instruction is viewed as a proactive approach to instruction and an idea that has as

many faces as practitioners. The model of differentiated instruction requires teachers to tailor their instruction and adjust the curriculum to students’ needs rather than expecting students to modify themselves to fit the curriculum. Teachers who are committed to this approach believe that who they teach shapes how they teach because who the students are shapes how they learn. Differentiated instruction requires the teacher to have “sufficient appropriate knowledge of the pupils, PLUS the ability to plan and deliver suitable lessons effectively, so as to help all pupils individually to maximize their learning, whatever their individual situation”. Differentiation is not teaching at a slow pace so that everyone can keep up; allowing pupils and groups work through tasks at their own pace, or expecting some students to do better than others and calling it ‘differentiation by outcome”. This session will provide you with the basic principles of Differentiated Instruction so that they will be able to meet the needs of their students.

Presenter: Alicia Valdez, Independent Consultant Session Room: Majestic

•Sheltered Instruction

Sheltered Instruction is an approach to teaching English language learners which integrates language and content instruction. The dual goals of sheltered instruction are: 1. to provide access to mainstream, grade-level content, and 2. to promote the development of English language proficiency.

Through this training you will be provided with an overview of the characteristics of Sheltered Instruction. You will be introduced to the integration of various strategies that will enable you to meet the needs of English language learners.

Presenter: Connie Guerra, Region I ESC Representative Session Room: Conch

•Response to Intervention (RTI)

RTI is a multi-tiered approach to providing support services to students who are struggling. It is a general education led effort implemented within the general education system which is coordinated with all other services including special education, Title I, ESL, Migrant Education, etc. RTI is designed to provide instructional intervention immediately upon student need. It is a process that determines if the child responds to scientific, research-based intervention as a part of the evaluation procedures.

This session will provide you with an overview to help you develop an understanding of the Response to Intervention (RTI) model.

Presenter: Nancy Escobedo-Atkinson, Region I ESC Representative Session Room: Sundial

• Training Block for Office Personnel (Continuation)

This preparation block will allow all campus office personnel to continue receiving material regarding existing and new systems changes within the SAPI Charter School Structure. Discussion opportunities will be presented. Corporate/Business Office Personnel will continue facilitating the agenda that will be carried out by Region 1 ESC Representatives. An array of subjects will be included in this information packed itinerary.

Presenter(s): Mike Burkholder, Mary Trevino, Region I ESC Representatives Session Room: Key Largo

The Chalkboard Jungle This unique presentation will allow participants to experience the same frustration, anxiety and tension that children with Learning Disabilities (LD) face in their daily lives. Ms. Alicia Valdez will open the presentation with an “Ice-Breaker” where the audience will experience the challenges of a learning disability.

Participants will be able to reflect upon their experiences and the way it will change their approach to working with L.D. children. Ms. Valdez’ presentation will also include vignettes of Richard Lavoie’s workshop, “How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop.

Celebrating Mr. Eduardo Gutierrez Lo Del Corazón

José Antonio Burciaga Lo del Corazón is that which comes from the Heart.

Co-ra-zón pronounced ko-da-son, without the bow in the Ko, pronounced with a soft “d” and “son” instead of “ zone,” with an accent on the són.

Now repeat as you read: “Corazón!”

Also pronounced Corathon in Hithpania.

But in Aztlán you can say cora which is short for corazón or you can say corazonsote which is very big hearted or a sweet and short corazonsito Literally and biologically it is the organ of circulation, that which is the ticker, the soul, the spirit or the gut feeling.

Lo del mero Corazón comes from the core, comes from the center, it is the nucleus, it is the seed, it is the essence, and the quintessence.

A corazonaso can be: A dolor de corazón-heartache Corazón partido-heartbreak Corazón doloroso-heart-rending Del mero corazón is: that which comes from a bottomless heart, that which gives love, that which gives valor, that which supports the backbone, that which gives nerve that which makes you love.

Love = amor yo amo = tu amas él, ella ama = nosotros amamos vosotros amais = ellos aman, Amén.

SERVING THE STUDENT FOR

YEARS

Academy Mascots OUR MISSION

OUR VISION

The mission of the charter district is to teach students to become respectable, responsible citizens who value their self-worth, respect others and realize the importance of hard work and the continuation of learning throughout their lives.

The vision of the charter district is to offer educational programs in a community-based, non-traditional setting in which teachers are free to be creative and innovative and students are free to explore their full potential.

The district also envisions a school in which staff, students, parents, and the local community have a deep sense of ownership through the knowledge that they will have the ability to truly be a part of the educational community.

1230 Townlake Drive • Laredo, Texas 78041 Phone: (956) 722-0747 www.SAPIacademies.org/gwa

47620 South Lucy • Laredo, Texas 78046 Phone: (956) 723-0345 www.SAPIacademies.org/gwa

1785 W. Bus. Hwy. 77 • San Benito, Texas 78586 Phone: (956) 276-9930 www.SAPIacademies.org/mva

200 N. 17th St. • McAllen, Texas 78501 Phone: (956) 618-2303 www.SAPIacademies.org/mva

103 E. 2nd. St. • Mercedes, Texas 78570 Phone: (956) 565-5417 www.SAPIacademies.org/mva

400 S. Zaragoza St. • El Paso, TX 79907 Phone: (915) 298-3637 www.SAPIacademies.org/pdna

711 N. Mesa St. • El Paso, TX 79902 Phone: (915) 532-7216 www.SAPIacademies.org/pdna

4008 Avenue R • Lubbock, TX 79412 Phone: (806) 744-0330 www.SAPIacademy.org/spa

813 E. Pike • Weslaco, tx 78596 Phone: (956) 447-2332

We Appreciatte You!

5 Years of Service Clark, Nancy......................................................... PDNA Elorreaga, Estella.............................................. PDNA Gomez, Alfredo................................................. PDNA Gonzalez, Valerie.................................................GWA Koontz, Charles....................................................... SPA Madrigal-Saenz, Melissa................................GWA Monroy, Maria.................................................... PDNA Newman, Natasha................................................ SPA Pacheco, Anabel.................................................... SPA Sanders, Mark........................................................... SPA Segovia, Amanda...............................................GWA 10 Years of Service Berrones-Johnson, Frances...........Corporate Fonseca, Jacob Weslaco..............................DAEP Herrera, Andrea.......................................Corporate Olivares, Norma...................................................GWA Silva, Roxie...............................................................GWA Tijerina, Samuel....................................................GWA 15 Years of Service Barcelo, Cosme J....................................Corporate Powell, Sonia........................................................... MVA Pruneda, Aydee......................................Corporate 20 Years of Service Gutierrez, Eduardo...............................Corporate

Board Members Janie Villa-Chairperson David Ojeda, Jr.-Vice-Chairperson Raul Sauceda-Secretary/Treasurer Amancio Chapa, Jr.-Member Rudy Telles-Member Tito Tijerina-Member Guillermo “William” Ruiz-Member Billie Russell-Member Lupe Silva-Member